03-11-2022, 08:51 PM
Veterans who worked with machinery on a regular basis during military service may been exposed to
hand-arm vibration from using power hand tools and/or whole-body vibration from operating heavy
equipment such as trucks, helicopters, and ships. Health problems associated with vibration exposure can
affect the body in various ways:
Continuous exposure may cause serious damage to the body.
Regular exposure to hand-arm vibration may cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome. Symptoms
include tingling, numbness, and pain in the fingers and hands.
Regular exposure to whole body vibration may cause low back pain.
In the U.S. alone about 2.5 million workers are exposed daily to Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) from the
power tools they use on-their-jobs. It is well known and documented since 1918 that daily occupational
exposure from many, but not all, pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, or gasoline powered vibrating hand-tools,
have been causally linked to an irreversible medical condition of the fingers/hands (originally called
Raynaud’s Phenomenon of Occupational Origin; later called Vibration White Finger disease) now called
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Documented workplace prevalence of HAVS range from 20-
50% in the U.S. for power tool users depending on the tools used, daily vibration exposure levels, work
practices, etc. The common signs and symptoms of HAVS in the fingers and hands include:
Pins and needles feeling.
Tingling, numbness.
Loss of finger sensation and dexterity.
Nightly awakening with painful fingers and hands.
Advanced symptoms (typically during cold weather) are painful attacks lasting 5-15 minutes where one
or more fingers turn “white or blanch”. It is well known and documented that vibration, cold, and nicotine
(from smoking) can each alone constrict blood vessels. Thus cold temperatures and/or smoking can worsen
symptoms for those diagnosed with HAVS. Current medical treatment can only reduce the pain and
suffering associated with HAVS attacks since HAVS is irreversible and without a cure. Thus the
watchwords are vigilance and prevention to minimize the medical effects of HAV.
Note that HAVS is not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) although in some instances a person can have
both occurring simultaneously in one or both hands. The Department of Defense has published guidance
for medical evaluation of personnel with exposure to hand-arm vibration and other occupational exposures,
available at http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Docume...PHC_TM.pdf (see Exam 508-
segmental vibration, page 223). Non-DOD personnel may wish to use this material as an information
resource to share with health care providers. You can learn more about vibration exposure and its health
effects at https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/Hand-Arm_V...6-2016.pdf# from the
Naval Safety Center
If you are concerned about health problems associated with vibration exposure during your military
service, talk to your health care provider or contact your local VA Environmental Health Coordinator via
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposure...nators.asp to help you get more information from a
health care provider. VA offers a variety of health care benefits to eligible Veterans. Not enrolled in the
VA health care system? Go to https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility to find out if you qualify for VA
health care. Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are
related to vibration exposure during military service. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis.
File a claim online at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage.
hand-arm vibration from using power hand tools and/or whole-body vibration from operating heavy
equipment such as trucks, helicopters, and ships. Health problems associated with vibration exposure can
affect the body in various ways:
Continuous exposure may cause serious damage to the body.
Regular exposure to hand-arm vibration may cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome. Symptoms
include tingling, numbness, and pain in the fingers and hands.
Regular exposure to whole body vibration may cause low back pain.
In the U.S. alone about 2.5 million workers are exposed daily to Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) from the
power tools they use on-their-jobs. It is well known and documented since 1918 that daily occupational
exposure from many, but not all, pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, or gasoline powered vibrating hand-tools,
have been causally linked to an irreversible medical condition of the fingers/hands (originally called
Raynaud’s Phenomenon of Occupational Origin; later called Vibration White Finger disease) now called
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Documented workplace prevalence of HAVS range from 20-
50% in the U.S. for power tool users depending on the tools used, daily vibration exposure levels, work
practices, etc. The common signs and symptoms of HAVS in the fingers and hands include:
Pins and needles feeling.
Tingling, numbness.
Loss of finger sensation and dexterity.
Nightly awakening with painful fingers and hands.
Advanced symptoms (typically during cold weather) are painful attacks lasting 5-15 minutes where one
or more fingers turn “white or blanch”. It is well known and documented that vibration, cold, and nicotine
(from smoking) can each alone constrict blood vessels. Thus cold temperatures and/or smoking can worsen
symptoms for those diagnosed with HAVS. Current medical treatment can only reduce the pain and
suffering associated with HAVS attacks since HAVS is irreversible and without a cure. Thus the
watchwords are vigilance and prevention to minimize the medical effects of HAV.
Note that HAVS is not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) although in some instances a person can have
both occurring simultaneously in one or both hands. The Department of Defense has published guidance
for medical evaluation of personnel with exposure to hand-arm vibration and other occupational exposures,
available at http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Docume...PHC_TM.pdf (see Exam 508-
segmental vibration, page 223). Non-DOD personnel may wish to use this material as an information
resource to share with health care providers. You can learn more about vibration exposure and its health
effects at https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/Hand-Arm_V...6-2016.pdf# from the
Naval Safety Center
If you are concerned about health problems associated with vibration exposure during your military
service, talk to your health care provider or contact your local VA Environmental Health Coordinator via
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposure...nators.asp to help you get more information from a
health care provider. VA offers a variety of health care benefits to eligible Veterans. Not enrolled in the
VA health care system? Go to https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility to find out if you qualify for VA
health care. Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are
related to vibration exposure during military service. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis.
File a claim online at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage.